--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Somehow I believed it was my obligation…" description: "\"“Somehow I believed it was my obligation to try to do the right thing by her because she had given birth to me.”\" — D.G. Kaye" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01b/d-g-kaye-106925_narcissistic-mothers_somehow-i-believed-it-was-my-obligation_2098167.jpg" --- # Somehow I believed it was my obligation to try to do the… ![“Somehow I believed it was my obligation to try to do the right thing by her because she had given birth to me.” quote by D.G. Kaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01b/d-g-kaye-106925_narcissistic-mothers_somehow-i-believed-it-was-my-obligation_2098167.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01b/d-g-kaye-106925_narcissistic-mothers_somehow-i-believed-it-was-my-obligation_2098167.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/01b/d-g-kaye-106925_narcissistic-mothers_somehow-i-believed-it-was-my-obligation_2098167.jpg) > ““Somehow I believed it was my obligation to try to do the right thing by her because she had given birth to me.”” D.G. Kaye ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A person feels compelled to repay a parent’s life‑giving sacrifice by acting responsibly toward them. **In simple terms:** Feeling duty to a mother because she gave birth. Key Takeaway Acknowledge and balance personal duty with self‑care. Themes responsibility family obligation gratitude ethics Mood reflective conflicted Type responsibility:1 Narcissistic-mothers:0 Obligation:1 Responsibility:1 Right thing:0 Given Birth:1 Obligation Try:0 Believed Obligation:0 When to use this quote - family caregiving - personal boundaries - ethical decision‑making Key Concepts reciprocity parental bond moral duty Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate healthy responsibility from self‑sacrifice? - What boundaries protect you while honoring gratitude? A Different Perspective Over‑identifying can lead to burnout or codependence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Birth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birth/) [Obligation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obligation/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Right thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-thing/) ## Related quotes > [“For some reason, I believed that I had above all else an obligation to protect everyone-- my teachers, my family-- from the knowledge of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-kettlewell/for-some-reason-i-believed-that-i-had-above-all-else-an-obligation-to/) [Caroline Kettlewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-kettlewell/) > [“Often, her mate is the child of a narcissist, already indoctrinated to regard exploitation and disregard as love. 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